Following an immediate disaster, what should a nurse prioritize when assisting victims?

In the aftermath of an immediate disaster, the primary focus for a nurse is to ensure that victims receive essential support and resources as quickly as possible. Organizing support with organizations like the American Red Cross is crucial because such organizations are equipped to provide immediate assistance, including food, shelter, medical care, and emotional support.

While providing counseling to clients, creating incident reports, or distributing information about food and shelter are important tasks, they tend to come after the initial response phase. The Red Cross and similar organizations are experienced in crisis management and can mobilize resources effectively, which is vital in a chaotic situation where victims may be in urgent need of help. Hence, prioritizing the organization of support ensures that victims have access to the necessary resources to recover from the disaster.